March 2025

JMTA High Notes
March 2025 —Vol. 28, no. 6
The general meeting and program for March will be held at St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church & over Zoom on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 9:30am,
Program at around 10:15am: Dr. Anita Renfroe and Dr. Mary McKee performing piano duets
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President’s Pen
Dear Colleagues,
We hope you will join us to hear Dr. Anita Renfroe and Dr. Mary McKee perform their renowned piano duet program for our March program! We are meeting at St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3976 Hendricks Avenue in Jacksonville (please park behind the church). You can read about their program on the next page.
We have confirmed that our April meeting and program will be held at Mandarin Presbyterian Church in the choir room. Dr. Sandra Stewart will be giving a program on teaching music theory. Whether you’re new to teaching or have taught for many years, Sandy will share her wealth of theory knowledge that will benefit you and your students, to improve their knowledge and become more proficient in playing their instrument.
We hope you will join us in these new locations, and we look forward to seeing you!
Sincerely,
Angie Holt,
President, JMTA
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Table of Contents
Monthly Programs
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
JMTA Scholarships. . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
JMTA Student Recitals. . . . . . . . . . 8
Center Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
State Conference News . . . . . . . .10
District IV News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Event Application Deadline Reminders
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

MONTHLY PROGRAMS

MARCH
“Sparked by Nature, Religion & War – Songs and Dances for Two” is a program of piano duets by Brahms, Dvorak, Benjamin, and Britten. The pianists are Dr. Mary McKee and Dr. Anita Renfroe. Come and join us at St. Marks Evangelical Church on Thursday, March 13th as we explore some beloved music for four hands. (Program will begin around 10:15am, after the 9:30am general meeting.)

Dr. Mary Watanabe McKee earned her Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Juilliard School where she studies with Adele Marcus. As a Fulbright Scholar at the Royal Academy of Music in London, she earned the Licentiate Diploma in Teaching and in Advanced Studies. Mary has performed solo and chamber music concerts in the U.S. Asia and Europe as well as with the Utah and Juilliard Symphonies. She has won prizes in the MTNA, National Arts Club and Five Towns Music & Arts competitions. As a music instructor she has taught in settings ranging from the Amelia Island Montessori School to Drew University. She maintains a teaching studio in Fernandina Beach for in-person and online lessons. Mary was the founder & chair of the National Federation of Music Clubs Savannah chapter. Currently she chairs the Piano Guild auditions in Fernandina Beach and is the Vice President of the Jacksonville Music Teachers Association. Mary is the organist/pianist at the First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach.

Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe earned three degrees in Piano Performance with honors from Florida State University, Memphis State University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Music. Key teachers included Edward Kilenyi, Maurice Hinson, Nelita True and Marvin Blickenstaff. She also has minors in harpsichord and organ. Anita has performed solo piano, harpsichord, and organ concerts as well as in chamber recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in the United States and Europe. Some of her performance venues include the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, and The World Bank in Washington, DC. In Europe she has performed in England, France, Germany, and Austria. She holds Permanent Professional and Master Teacher Certificates from the Music Teachers National Association. She has lectured and presented her original research to Music Teachers National Association conferences, the National Federation of Music Clubs, the American Guild of Organists, and the International Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. Dr. Renfroe retired as Director of Keyboard Studies from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she served for 22 years, in 2016 and moved to Fernandina Beach. She is currently the accompanist for the Amelia Island Singers and maintains a private studio in her home. Anita is the immediate past President of the Jacksonville Music Teachers Association. Her concert schedule for 2024-2025 includes concerts, workshops and adjudications in Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, FL and Orangeburg, SC.

Zoom link: March
March Meeting – 3/13/25 Join Zoom Meeting https://unf.zoom.us/j/89004403651?pwd=mJAtWL1VWoT7a3FdX4wSNjgzkh5v8b.1 Meeting ID: 890 0440 3651 Passcode: 935218

UPCOMING MONTHS:

APRIL Thursday, April 10 – Dr. Sandra Stewart – Teaching Music Theory, Mandarin Presbyterian Church

MAY Thursday, May 8 – Scholarship and Concerto Competition Winners’ performance, followed by the annual end-of-year luncheon

Photo Gallery

We enjoyed our program in February with Lynn Roberts of Explore Music Jax, followed by our Farewell Brunch for Jack Melvin of Keyboard Connection.

JMTA SCHOLARSHIPS

JMTA SUMMER MUSIC CAMP SCHOLARSHIP

JMTA Summer music camp scholarship is awarded annually only to pre-college students of JMTA members. The deadline for application is March 30, 2025. The scholarship may be awarded in full or partially.
Students who receive scholarships may attend the summer camp of their choice. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of need. Only one scholarship per family may be awarded. Students who receive money for summer camps from other organizations are not eligible to receive assistance from JMTA.
Teachers must submit a short outline of their students’ qualification for scholarship along with their name(s) to the JMTA Scholarship Committee for consideration by the JMTA board.

Kamila Shahtakhtinski, NCTM,
JMTA Scholarship Committee Chair

Spencer McKee is performing a recital on Thursday, March 13th at 7:00 pm at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach. The program will consist of music of Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, and Prokofiev. All are welcome to attend and there is no admission fee.

________________________________________________________________________JMTA STUDENT RECITALS

PROTON THERAPY RECITAL
Each year JMTA holds a community recital at the Proton Therapy Institute, 2015 N. Jefferson Street in downtown Jacksonville. This year's performance will be on Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. We perform for staff, patients and guests. All upper-level intermediate and advanced students are invited to participate and will receive a letter of community service credit. Students may choose to perform one or two pieces. Please send the following information to Sandy Stewart at [email protected] one week in advance (March 18):
- Name, age and level of student
- Complete title and composer of pieces
- Approximate timing of pieces Hope to see your students there!
Thanks,
Sandy
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CENTER STAGE ……. with JohnWillard Utuk

I'd like to share with members exciting news-two proposals I submitted were accepted back in January and I will be presenting (first time for an international audience!) at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in June and July.

I will be presenting at the Piano Conference NCKP 2025, both online and in person in June and July this year. My solo presentation "Messages in the Music: Unlocking Creative Compositions with Cryptogram Composing" will be presented online live, on Sunday, June 8, 2025 from 3:00 to 3:25 PM CST (4-4:25 ET) highlighting the unique composing technique I've used to create personalized piano (teaching) pieces.

In person in Chicago, I'll lead a panel presentation/discussion with colleague Dr. Leonidas Lagrimas (Assist. Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy-Western Carolina University) called, "How Does That Make (Me) Feel? Exploring the Art of Meaningful Self-Feedback" where we explore the topic of feedback and evaluation that we give ourselves and to our students. We'll touch on scenarios about better understanding personal beliefs and mindsets, awareness of criticism vs. constructive feedback while also balancing honest, encouraging commentary, and how feedback in general can affect motivation, performance outcomes, student-teacher relationships, and self-esteem. The session will 
be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 11:30 to 11:55 AM CST.
Here's the link for more information about the conference and to register: https://pianoinspires.com/nckp-the-piano-conference/
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STATE CONFERENCE NEWS

Dear Colleagues,

Members of District Four of Florida (greater Jacksonville area) are thrilled to invite each of you to Amelia Island and the historic seaside community of Fernandina Beach for the 2025 FSMTA Conference! This 13-mile-long barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway boasts five public beaches, the tallest dunes in Florida and Ft. Clinch State Park. Amelia is a lively arts community with the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, Amelia Island Singers, Amelia Island Opera Company and art galleries galore.

The Marriot Courtyard and Springhill Suites complex will be our home for the conference. The ocean is visible from many of the rooms. Several restaurants are onsite or a block away.

You are encouraged to submit proposals for sessions that supports the theme: Unlocking Musical Treasures. Please send these to Dr. Mary McKee, [email protected] or Dr. Anita Renfroe, [email protected] by June 30, 2025.

Plan now to join us in this lovely setting to hear inspiring artists, charismatic speakers and motivational sessions. Headliners include Marvin Blickenstaff, Gail Berenson, Charles Turon, and Helen Marlais. Speakers include Arthur Campbell and Brian Shepherd.

Sincerely,

Anita
Dr. Anita Boyle Renfroe
Local Chair for 2025 FSMTA Conference

DISTRICT IV NEWS

Student Day

2025 District IV Student Day was held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Mandarin Baptist Church.

We had 31 students registered, 27 students participating, with seven participating teachers: Stefanie Batson-Martin, Christine Couch, Denise Homsley, Angie Holt, Anna Marr, Lorraine Sears, and Emily Stewart.

Thank you to our judges Dr. Michael Mastronicola and Dr. Sandra Stewart, and to those who came and worked in various capacities that day: Denise and Mark Homsley, Lorraine Sears, Christine Couch, Steve and Anna Marr, Rhonda Danielson, and Stefanie Batson-Martin.

Information will be forthcoming about an Honors Recital, and certificates and medals should be ready in several weeks. Thank you to everyone for making Student Day a successful day!

- Angie Holt, District IV Student Activities Chair

Concerto Competition

This year’s District IV Concerto Competition will take place at UNF on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at UNF Recital Hall. The application deadline was Friday, February 28, 2025.

- Dr. Erin Bennett, District IV Concerto Competition Chair
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Event Application Deadline Reminders

JMTA Community “Proton Therapy” Recital
Application deadline: Tuesday, March 18
JMTA Summer Music Camp Scholarship
Application deadline: Sunday, March 30
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Find A Teacher Section on Jaxmta.org

Teachers, please take a moment to check out your information on our Find A Teacher page on the JMTA website (jaxmta.org). If you would like any changes made, or if you’re not listed yet and would like to be added, please contact Angie Holt at [email protected] with the verbiage you would like put in.
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Did You Know?

Residents of Duval county, if they have a Jacksonville Library card, can use the many electronic resources from the https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/digital-library. Getting a library card is free. All that's needed is your driver's license and sign up in person at any of the 21 branches.
The card allows the use of Kanopy - which has free streaming movies, documentaries, educational resources [older teens/adults]. I saw a documentary "Making the Grade" which profiled Irish students and piano teachers whose students are preparing to take the Irish Royal Academy of Music Examinations. It was funny, moving, informative, and relatable, especially seeing snippets of the teacher's lessons in action and how the students feel about piano and their teachers overall. I highly recommend members watch it (and explore the other resources available from JPL)!
- JohnWillard Utuk
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Need a Sponsor?
Does anyone in the JMTA need a sponsor or need help in any way? If so, John Scott, owner of Jacksonville School of Music & First Coast School of Music, is interested in helping our organization. If interested, contact John at [email protected]. His direction phone number is 904-248-1848.
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Music Exchange
Do you have too much music collected in your studio? Is there some you think you'll never use? Bring your unneeded music to any JMTA meeting. Bring home something new to you! Look for the "Free Music" spot. Music does not have to be brand new.
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Have you found us on Facebook?
Follow JMTA on Facebook for the latest happenings, photos, videos, and more!
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Events Calendar
Please view our website for any updates or additions to these events, as well as for more details including application deadlines: www.jaxmta.org.

Thursday, March 13 9:30am – JMTA Meeting After - Program JMTA Meeting and Program– Dr. Anita Renfroe and Dr. Mary McKee - Performance, St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3976 Hendricks Avenue, 32207

March 15 – March 22 As Scheduled, MTNA National Conference Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saturday, March 22 TBA - District IV Concerto Competition, UNF Fine Arts Building, Room 1200, Recital Hall, 1 UNF Drive, 32224

Tuesday, March 25 6:00pm - Community “Proton Therapy” Recital UF Therapy Institute, 2015 N. Jefferson St., downtown Jacksonville

Thursday, April 10 9:30am – JMTA Meeting, After - Program; JMTA Meeting and Program – Dr. Sandra Stewart – Music Theory, Mandarin Presbyterian Church 

Thursday, May 8 9:30am – JMTA Meeting, After - Program; JMTA Meeting and Program – HS Scholarship and Concerto Competition Winners, End-of-Year Luncheon Home of Anita Renfroe
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Stay tuned for more events to come! High Notes is distributed on the first of the month excluding June-August and December. All submissions are due by the 20th of the month prior to distribution. Submissions may be sent to [email protected].